Rupert Murdoch and News Corporation Bid for BSkyB

Christopher Pincher Excerpts

Wednesday 13th July 2011 Commons Chamber

[Edward Miliband]

My hon. Friend is absolutely right about this, because those people are key figures in the newspaper industry, and indeed the whole media industry in Britain, and they should not be above the Select Committee. It is absolutely right—I am sure that this view will be shared in all parts of this House—for them to come before the Select Committee.

[Christopher Pincher (Tamworth) (Con)]

rose—

[Edward Miliband]

I am going to make progress, but I will give way to the hon. Gentleman.

[Christopher Pincher]

Was the right hon. Gentleman saying those things to Rupert Murdoch when he was eating his canapés three weeks ago?

[Edward Miliband (Doncaster North) (Lab)]

Let me say to the hon. Gentleman, who is new to this House, that this is an opportunity for the House of Commons to speak with one voice on these issues. That is what we should do today.

I was about to say that the issues we are discussing are about the integrity of people working at News International. The Chair of this House’s Select Committee on Culture, Media and Sport says that he was misled, the head of the Press Complaints Commission says that she was lied to by News International, James Murdoch has admitted serious wrongdoing in the company, and there are now, of course, allegations that News International knew that phone hacking was widespread as long ago as 2007.